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I downloaded the Kernel from Offensive Security, I extracted using LZM2Dir (do I need to do anything else?)
I downloaded the modified driver, rt2870-2.6.25-hirte.tar.bz2, extracted and did a make and make install.

I got the device showing up in iwconfig by following the instructions here ([h ttps://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/45440) and applying to the modified driver.
Copied for archive purposes :

Open with gedit the file named config.mk, that is placed in the subfolder os/linux. Replace the lines "HAS_WPA_SUPPLICANT=n" and "HAS_NATIVE_WPA_SUPPLICANT_SUPPORT=n", with the lines "HAS_WPA_SUPPLICANT=y" and "HAS_NATIVE_WPA_SUPPLICANT_SUPPORT=y" (without the quotes). Save and close.

Now open the file named rt2870.h that is placed in the subfolder include. Insert a new line after "{USB_DEVICE(0x157E,0x300E)}, /* U-Media */ \", it is line 126, and place in the new line exactly this string "{USB_DEVICE(0x1737,0x0071)}, /* WUSB600N */ \" (again without the quotes). Save and close.

We are ready to compile, so bring up a terminal, point it to the directory "2008_0718_RT2870_Linux_STA_v1.3.1.0" and type "sudo make". It may take some minutes. If no error is reported (for me it worked) then you have your driver compiled.

Now we have to copy the file named RT2870STA.dat to the folder /etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/. You may have to create it, for example type in the terminal:

Almost done, we have to load the driver kernel module. Select again the terminal, navigate to the subfolder os/lnux, and then load the module with:

$
sudo insmod rt2870sta.ko

To get it running always at startup, we have to edit a file. Open it by typing in the terminal "sudo gedit /etc/modules", then at the end of file add the line "rt2870sta" (without the quotes). Save and close.

Reboot your pc, it should then work.

Gedit isn't installed on Backtrack as far as I can see so replace with Kedit. Sudo isn't necessary because you already have root access

The problem I now have is getting the driver to start at startup, at the moment I'm having to manually navigate to rt2870/os/linux and instmod rt2870sta.ko to start the driver, /etc/modules produced a blank page, editing modules.conf didn't make a difference.
Anyone know where I make the entry in Backtrack?

It looks like a no-go with VMware, although the driver installed, kismet and anything else would freeze on startup and the OS would become unstable.
I've succesfully installed the adaptor on a USB HDD BT3 installation with success in cracking my own Wep key.

No need to edit the config.mk with the driver listed below.
Basic steps are :

Download the Nemesis version of the driver (wxw.speedshare.org/download.php?setlang=en&id=F81DA99513)

Extract, copy RT2870STA.dat from root to /etc/Wireless/RT2870STA/

Compile using Make

CD to os/linux/
insmod rt2870sta.ko

Kismet entry is : source=rt73,ra0,ralink
Hopefully this might be some help to someone and sorry for taking so many posts but they did help in remembering where I'd been .